ตำ
dtamMeanings
1VerbA2
[to] pound; crush (with mortar/pestle)
to repeatedly strike and press using a heavy tool (often mortar and pestle) to break, mix, or make a paste
Examples
ลูกบอลlûuk-bɔɔnลูกบอลlûuk-bɔɔnball (for sports/games)กระเด็นgrà-denกระเด็นgrà-den1[to] splash; spatter2[to] be flung; be knocked awayไปbpaiไปbpai1[to] go2away; off (directional complement/particle)3on; onward; continuously (aspect marker)4(aspect) completed; already pastตำdtamตำdtam1[to] pound; crush (with mortar/pestle)2[to] pierce; prick; punctureกระจกgrà-jòkกระจกgrà-jòk1mirror2glass (material; pane; sheet)หน้าต่างnâa-dtàangหน้าต่างnâa-dtàang1window2window (computing)จนjonจนjon1poor2until; up to3so ... that; to the point ofเป็นรอยbpen-rɔɔiเป็นรอยbpen-rɔɔi[to] be scratched; marked
The ball bounced and thumped the window, leaving a mark.
11 more examplesShow less
เขาkǎoโมโหmoo-hǒoจนjonตำdtamประตูbprà-dtuuไม้máaiดังdangปังbpangหลายlǎaiครั้งkrángทำให้tam-hâiบานbaanพังpang
He got so angry that he thumped the wooden door several times, causing it to break.
ฝนfǒnลูกเห็บlûuk-hèpตำdtamหลังคาlǎng-kaaสังกะสีsǎng-gà-sǐiทั้งคืนtáng-kʉʉnจนjonมีรอยmii-rɔɔiบุบbùpเต็มไปหมดdtem-bpai-mòt
Hail battered the tin roof all night, leaving it full of dents.
Grandma pounds chilies in the mortar.
This morning mom pounded garlic until fine.
He pounded roasted rice with chilies to make chili paste.
เชฟchépตำdtamเครื่องแกงkrêuuang gaengโดยdoiใช้cháiสากsàakหนักnàkกดgòtและláeบดbòtซ้ำๆsám-sámจนjonส่วนผสมsùuan pà-sŏmเข้ากันkâo ganเป็นbpenเนื้อnéuuaเดียวdiiao
The chef pounds the curry paste using a heavy pestle, pressing and crushing repeatedly until the ingredients blend into a smooth paste.
Yesterday we went to the market and made papaya salad at home.
เดี๋ยวdǐiaoฉันchǎnจะjàตำส้มตำไทยdtam-sôm-dtam-taiใส่sàiมะเขือเทศmá-kʉ̌ʉa-têetกับgàpถั่วฝักยาวtùua-fàk-yaao
I’m about to make Thai-style papaya salad, adding tomatoes and long beans.
แม่ครัวmâe kruuaสาธิตsăa-títวิธีwí-teeตำส้มdtam sômตำdtamให้hâiกรอบgròpหอมhŏmโดยdoiค่อยkôiๆ-ใส่sàiเครื่องkrêuuangและláeคลุกklúkให้hâiเข้ากันkâo gan
The cook demonstrated how to make papaya salad crisp and fragrant by gradually adding ingredients and mixing them well.
เรือrʉʉaโคkooลงแรงlong-rɛɛngจนjonกระแทกgrà-tɛ̂ɛkตำdtamท้องtɔ́ɔngเรือrʉʉaกับgàpทุ่นtûnหลายlǎaiครั้งkrángทำให้tam-hâiโครงสร้างkroong-sâangเสียหายsǐia-hǎai
The boat rocked violently and repeatedly battered its hull against the buoy, damaging the structure.
2VerbB1
[to] pierce; prick; puncture
to make a hole or puncture with something sharp (e.g., a thorn pricking the skin)
Tones
See how the spelling sets each syllable's tone, step by step.
Why is ตำ said ตัม?
dtam
- Vowel spellingThe vowel ำ already ends in an m sound, so it is respelled ัม.
The tone rules below use the spoken syllables.
How the tone is decided
- Consonant classMid class
- Tone markNo tone mark
- Syllable endingLive syllableThe vowel ำ hides a final -ม, so it is live.
Mid class consonants
กจฎฏดตบปอ
Result
Mid tone
dtam
Level, in your normal speaking voice.
Mid class + No tone mark + Live syllable → Mid
Tone chart
Every class and spelling pattern, with this syllable outlined.
| Mid class | High class | Low class | |
|---|---|---|---|
| No mark + live | Mid | Rising | Mid |
| No mark + dead short | Low | Low | High |
| No mark + dead long | Low | Low | Falling |
| Mai ek | Low | Low | Falling |
| Mai tho | Falling | Falling | High |
| Mai tri | High | — | — |
| Mai chattawa | Rising | — | — |